Portable exercise equipment

Abstract

A portable exercise device includes an anchor portion, a swivel portion, one or more elongate straps, springs or elastic cords, and handles. The swivel portion may allow the elongate straps to rotate without getting tangled. The springs may be placed in series or in parallel with at least part of the elongate straps. Two or more springs, of different lengths, may be placed in parallel to achieve a changing spring constant of the system, depending on displacement of the handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable exercise system comprising:
 an anchor portion comprising an obstruction device connected by a first anchor strap to a second anchor strap, the second anchor strap comprising an opening and a connector, a size of said opening being continuously adjustable and firmly securable to a vertical object along the height of a standing user, the exercise system being selectively anchored either by the obstruction device or the opening; 
 a first elongate strap and a second elongate strap, each elongate strap being inelastic and comprising an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion continuous with the upper strap portion, the lower strap portion having a first upper end and a detachable second lower end; 
 a first handle and a second handle; and 
 a first spring and a second spring; 
 wherein said anchor portion is at least one of connected and connectable to said first elongate strap and said second elongate strap using a swivel connector, the swivel connector being sized to prevent free movement of the first and second elongate straps through the swivel connector and limiting the length of said first and second elongate straps; and 
 wherein each of said first and second handles is connected to the anchor portion by each of said respective first and second elongate straps, including the detachable lower strap portion and the upper strap portion of each elongate strap, each lower strap portion being connected to its respective upper strap portion at a first upper connector and to its respective handle at a second lower connector; 
 said first spring and said second spring being configured to attach to said exercise system and be disposed parallel to at least part of, respectively, said lower strap portion of said first elongate strap and to said lower strap portion of said second elongate strap, each spring being attached to said exercise system at its respective first upper connector and at its second lower connector, each lower strap portion being detachable from its respective second lower connector to expose only each respective spring to tension, each lower strap portion being re-attachable to the exercise system at its respective upper strap portion, whereby the exercise system is configured to have two modes of operation: inelastic when each lower strap portion is attached to its respective second lower connector, and elastic when each lower strap portion is detached therefrom. 
 
     
     
       2. The exercise system of  claim 1 , further comprising third and fourth springs configured to be connected to said exercise system parallel to each of said first and second springs. 
     
     
       3. The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein said third spring and said fourth spring are different lengths compared to said first and second springs when unstretched. 
     
     
       4. The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second springs comprises an elastic exercise band. 
     
     
       5. The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second elongate straps comprises static nylon webbing. 
     
     
       6. The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein said anchor portion comprises an obstruction device and at least one strap. 
     
     
       7. The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second springs is connectable to said anchor portion. 
     
     
       8. A portable exercise system comprising:
 an anchor portion; 
 a first elongate strap and a second elongate strap, each elongate strap being inelastic and comprising an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion continuous with the upper strap portion, the lower strap portion having a first upper end and a detachable second lower end; 
 a first handle and a second handle; 
 a first spring and a second spring; and 
 a swivel connector; 
 wherein said anchor portion is connected to said first and second elongate straps by said swivel connector, such that said anchor portion is configured to rotate independent of said first and second elongate straps; and 
 wherein said first handle is at least one of connected and connectable to said first elongate strap and said second handle is at least one of connected and connectable to said second elongate strap; 
 wherein each of said first and second handles is connected to the anchor portion by each of said respective first and second elongate straps, including the detachable lower strap portion and the upper strap portion of each elongate strap, each lower strap portion being connected to its respective upper strap portion at a first upper connector and to its respective handle at a second lower connector; 
 said first spring and said second spring being configured to attach to said exercise system and be disposed parallel to at least part of, respectively, said lower strap portion of said first elongate strap and to said lower strap portion of said second elongate strap, each spring being attached to said exercise system at its respective first upper connector and at its second lower connector, each lower strap portion being detachable from its respective second lower connector to expose only each respective spring to tension, each lower strap portion being re-attachable to the exercise system at its respective upper strap portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The exercise system of  claim 8 , wherein said anchor portion is configured to be continuously adjustable in length. 
     
     
       10. The exercise system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second elongate straps comprises two nylon straps. 
     
     
       11. The exercise system of  claim 10 , wherein said two elongate nylon straps are sewn together at generally consistent intervals. 
     
     
       12. A portable exercise system comprising:
 an anchor portion; 
 a swivel connector; 
 a first elongate strap and a second elongate strap, each elongate strap being inelastic and comprising an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion continuous with the upper strap portion, the lower strap portion having a first upper end and a detachable second lower end; 
 a first handle and a second handle; and 
 a first spring and a second spring; 
 wherein said anchor portion is at least one of connected and connectable to said first and second elongate straps using the swivel connector; and 
 wherein a first end of said first and second springs is at least one of connected and connectable to respective said first and second elongate straps and a second end of said first and second springs is at least one of connected and connectable to respective said first and second handles; 
 wherein each of said first and second handles is connected to the anchor portion by each of said respective first and second elongate straps, including the detachable lower strap portion and the upper strap portion of each elongate strap, each lower strap portion being connected to its respective upper strap portion at a first upper connector and to its respective handle at a second lower connector; 
 said first spring and said second spring being configured to attach to said exercise system and be disposed parallel to at least part of, respectively, said lower strap portion of said first elongate strap and to said lower strap portion of said second elongate strap, each spring being attached to said exercise system at its respective first upper connector and at its second lower connector, each lower strap portion being detachable from its respective second lower connector to expose only each respective spring to tension, each lower strap portion being re-attachable to the exercise system at its respective upper strap portion, whereby the exercise system is configured to have two modes of operation: inelastic when each lower strap portion is attached to its respective second lower connector, and elastic when each lower strap portion is detached therefrom. 
 
     
     
       13. The exercise system of  claim 12 , wherein said anchor portion is configured to be secured to at least part of a door. 
     
     
       14. The exercise system of  claim 13 , wherein said anchor portion is secured to at least part of a door by placing at least part of said anchor portion between said door and a door frame associated with said door, and closing said door. 
     
     
       15. The exercise system of  claim 12 , wherein said anchor portion is configured to be secured to and wrapped around a generally stationary object. 
     
     
       16. The exercise system of  claim 12  wherein the distance from each handle to each respective first upper connector is adjustable, and wherein the resistance of the exercise system is adjustable, by varying the length of the lower strap portion and the spring. 
     
     
       17. The exercise system of  claim 16  wherein the lower strap portion remains attached to the second lower connector and is one of: shorter than the spring, longer than the spring, same length as the spring.